Stories from 16 December 2015
Netizen Report: Tales of Torture from Ethiopia’s Jails
Netizens give chilling account of inhumane treatment in Ethiopia's prison system. Meanwhlie, sedition laws levy strict penalties for netizens in Thailand, Malaysia.
The Liberation of Dhaka and the Whitewashing of Pakistan's History
Pakistan's official account of their Armed Forces' surrender in Dhaka 44 years ago ignores the realities of the bloody conflict that resulted in Bangladesh's secession.
Singapore Couple on Trial for Allegedly Starving Filipina Maid for 15 Months
"...migrant domestic workers in Singapore live and work under state regulations that place them squarely in the position of indentured slaves..."
Fears for Hong Kong's Press Freedom Follow Alibaba's Purchase of the South China Morning Post
Journalists in Hong Kong worry that the newspaper, which has already been criticized for a pro-Beijing stance in recent years, will become a mouthpiece for China's government.
The Complexities of Adapting to Climate Change in Benin
Poverty, practicalities and lack of awareness can complicate efforts to do so, experts at a conference on development and climate change in Benin concluded.
A Year on From the Peshawar School Attack, the Wounds are Still Fresh
"The auditorium smelt like an abattoir. “This is where the most children were killed,” we were told." One year later, a journalist revisits the experience of the Peshawar school attack.
What the Paris Climate Change Agreement Does and Doesn’t Do
Here’s a rough and unofficial overview of some different parts of the deal agreed to by 195 countries.
Here's What Russian Internet Users Googled in 2015
In 2015, the RuNet cheered on Eurovision and hockey, but also mourned prominent Russians who passed away and followed the tragic events in Egypt and France.
In US Republican Politics, ‘Hating on Iran Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry’
The Republican debate became a forum for factual inaccuracies and demonizing Iran.
Flora and Fauna Signal the Visible Effects of Climate Change in Nepal
From diminished apple production to the movement of several species of birds, Nepal is seeing the dramatic effects of climate change, despite the country's nominal contribution to global warming.
Indonesia Mourns Scholar Benedict Anderson, Who Helped Expose the 1965 Anti-Communist Purge
Indonesians celebrate the life of Professor Benedict Anderson, author of the book "Imagined Communities" and an expert on Southeast Asia at Cornell University. Anderson died last week.
